Reykjavík Pride Returns for Its 27th Year.
For 27 years, Reykjavík Pride has transformed Iceland’s capital into a celebration of queer joy, visibility, and community. What began as Hinsegin dagar in 1999 has grown into one of the country’s largest public events, drawing tens of thousands of people to the streets each August and cementing itself as a cornerstone of Iceland’s cultural calendar.
But Pride has never just been about the party.
This year’s theme, “Unite Under the Rainbow”, arrives at a moment when conversations about belonging, identity, and solidarity feel increasingly urgent. Just weeks before the festival, a rainbow crossing outside Grafarvogskirkja was vandalised and painted over with the Icelandic flag; a reminder that even in one of the world’s most progressive countries, visibility still matters and equality remains something to be protected, not assumed.
For Helga Haraldsdóttir, Chair of Reykjavík Pride, that reality only strengthens the festival’s purpose. Now in her fourth year leading Reykjavík Pride, Helga has overseen the continued growth of an event built almost entirely by volunteers. Yet, as she tells GayIceland, success isn’t measured by crowd size, but by whether people leave feeling that they belong. We sat down with Helga ahead of Reykjavík Pride 2026 to talk about this year’s theme, the evolving role of Pride in Iceland, leadership, community, and why, more than ever, it remains important to unite under the rainbow.
GayIceland: Last year Reykjavík Pride’s theme was “Unity Creates Community”. Looking back twelve months later, do you feel that message has become even more relevant?
Helga: “I think it is always going to be as relevant as it is now and as it was then. Resistance and celebration will always be stronger in unity.”
GayIceland: What is this year’s theme?
Helga: “This year’s theme is “Unite Under the Rainbow”. It’s an invitation to everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from, to come together and celebrate the diversity that makes our communities stronger. Pride is about creating a space where everyone belongs, where differences are celebrated, and where we stand together in solidarity.”
GayIceland: Reykjavík Pride has grown into one of Iceland’s biggest public events. Has that success brought new challenges for the organisation?
Helga: “Yes, absolutely. Reykjavík Pride is organised by a board of just seven volunteers who work throughout the year to create a week of more than 30 events with a lot of help from more volunteers. As the festival has grown, so have our responsibilities. Every year we put even greater emphasis on safety, accessibility, and making sure everyone can enjoy Pride while welcoming ever-growing numbers of participants. At the same time, our goal isn’t to make Reykjavík Pride bigger every year. Success, in my opinion, isn’t measured by the size of the crowd, but by how many people feel that Pride is a place where they belong. We want to create a celebration that reflects the full spectrum of our community.”
“One of the most rewarding developments in recent years has been seeing the wider queer community embrace Pride and participating in it. We’ve also started offering grants to help individuals and organisations create Pride events, making it easier for more voices and communities to take part. As a result, more community-led events are taking place across Reykjavík than ever before, making Pride a celebration that is shaped not only by our organisation, but by the whole queer community itself.”
Our national flag belongs to all Icelanders, including LGBTQIA+ people. It should never be used as a symbol to divide people or suggest that some belong more than others.
GayIceland: Recently, the rainbow crossing outside Grafarvogskirkja (Grafarvogur Curch) was vandalised and painted over with the Icelandic flag. Does an incident like that change how you approach Pride this year, or does it simply reinforce why Pride exists?
Helga: “Unfortunately, incidents like this have become more common in the weeks leading up to Pride, so it isn’t something entirely new. But rather than changing how we approach Pride, I would say it reinforces why Pride continues to matter. What stood out to me in this particular case was the use of the Icelandic flag. Our national flag belongs to all Icelanders, including LGBTQIA+ people. It should never be used as a symbol to divide people or suggest that some belong more than others. In painting over the rainbow crossing with the Icelandic flag, I feel both symbols were disrespected.”
“That’s why this year I’ll proudly walk carrying both the Icelandic flag and the rainbow flag. To me, they represent the same idea: that LGBTQIA+ people are, and have always been, an equal part of Icelandic society. I hope many others will join me in celebrating both our national identity and the diversity that makes our country stronger.”
GayIceland: Iceland is often seen internationally as one of the safest and most progressive places for LGBTQIA+ people. Are there issues that people outside Iceland don’t always see?
Helga: “This is correct, we are one of the safest and most progressive places or LGBTQIA+ people. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that we are always safe or that homo/transphobia is not a part of people’s lives. I´m really lucky to have been born here and the privileges that follow me regarding just being able to live my life out and proud and I can recognise that as well.”
…more community-led events are taking place across Reykjavík than ever before, making Pride a celebration that is shaped not only by our organisation, but by the whole queer community itself.
“It’s true that, compared to many parts of the world, Iceland is one of the safest and most progressive places to be queer and I’m incredibly grateful to have been born here. I don’t take for granted the freedom I have to live openly and proudly, because I know that millions of LGBTQ+ people around the world still don’t have that opportunity. At the same time, being one of the safest countries doesn’t mean everyone always feels safe. Homophobia and transphobia still exist here like everywhere else, and many queer people, especially trans people, experience discrimination, prejudice, or fear in their lives. Equality isn’t a destination where the work is finished, it’s something we have to keep protecting and building together. I think it’s important that we celebrate how far we’ve come while also listening to those whose experiences remind us that there is still work to do. Those two things can be true at the same time.”
GayIceland: Every year Reykjavík Pride welcomes visitors from around the world. What do you hope someone attending for the first time takes away from the experience?
Helga: “The first thing that surprises many visitors is the scale of it. Iceland is a small country, so people are often amazed by how many people come together to celebrate Pride and show their support. Another thing I often hear from international visitors is how community-focused the Pride March feels. Unlike many Prides around the world, we don’t allow company branding or corporate logos in the march itself. That means the focus stays on Queer people, our allies, community groups and organisations rather than on advertising. It’s a conscious choice that helps keep the parade feeling personal, authentic, and rooted in the community.”
GayIceland: Is there a particular event or moment in this year’s program that you’re personally most looking forward to?
Helga: “There are so many moments I look forward to every year, but if I had to choose one, it wouldn’t actually be a particular event. The greatest joy for me is spending time with the incredible people who make Reykjavík Pride possible. Our volunteers, event organisers, artists, performers, partners, and community members all give their time, energy, and passion to create this week, and it’s incredibly inspiring to witness. This is the reason why I keep on doing this every year.”
Unlike many Prides around the world, we don’t allow company branding or corporate logos in the march itself.
GayIceland: “You’ve now chaired Reykjavík Pride for several years. How has leading the festival changed you, both personally and as an activist?
Helga: “After my first year as Chair, I remember looking back on everything we had accomplished and asking myself what the experience had taught me. The biggest thing I gained was confidence. Bringing together hundreds of volunteers, artists, organisations, partners, and community members to create something meaningful showed me that I was capable of leading in ways I hadn’t fully believed before. What also changed me was my understanding of leadership. Pride isn’t built by one person or even by a board of seven people. It’s built by people who choose to give their time, energy, and creativity to our community. That has taught me to lead with gratitude, to listen, and to make sure people know how valued they are. We always try to make every volunteer feel seen and appreciated because Reykjavík Pride simply wouldn’t exist without them. If the people who give so much of themselves to Pride feel that their contribution mattered, then I feel like we´ve done our job.”
GayIceland: Pride is often described as both a celebration and a protest. Do you think the balance between those two has shifted in recent years?
Helga: “I think Pride has naturally evolved over the years, and today the Pride march is a reflection of the diversity within our own community. Some people march to protest, to demand change, and to raise awareness of the issues that still affect Queer people. Others come to celebrate who they are, how far we’ve come, and the freedom to live openly. To me, those aren’t opposing ideas, they’re both forms of resistance. Choosing to celebrate your identity, and to take up space in a world that hasn’t always welcomed Queer people can be just as powerful as carrying a protest sign. Both have an important place at Pride, and together they remind us of where we’ve come from, while inspiring us to keep going.”
GayIceland: Young LGBTQ+ people are growing up in a very different world than previous generations. What do you think Pride can offer them today that social media can’t?
Helga: “Social media can help young people realize they’re not alone. It can help them find language for who they are, learn from others, and connect across borders. That’s incredibly valuable.”
“But Pride offers something social media can not; it offers an experience of real community. It gives young LGBTQ+ people the chance to stand next to thousands of people who celebrate them exactly as they are. To meet friends, families and role models face to face. That feeling of belonging and having your own place in the community.”
Success, in my opinion, isn’t measured by the size of the crowd, but by how many people feel that Pride is a place where they belong.
GayIceland: Every Pride week has moments that the public never sees. What’s something that always happens behind the scenes that people would be surprised by?
Helga: “No matter how well you plan, something always goes wrong! A microphone stops working, someone gets lost, something is forgotten or the weather changes at the last minute(I mean it’s Iceland). What probably surprises people is how calm everyone stays. After years of doing this, the team has become incredibly good at solving problems before anyone in the audience even notices. And when a problem occurs, that is always our strategy and mindset. Instead of focusing on the problem or who is responsible for it, we focus on how we can fix it.”
GayIceland: Reykjavík Pride is powered by volunteers. If someone wants to get involved, what roles are available and what kind of people are you looking for?
Helga: “The best way is to register as a volunteer through Reykjavik Pride website. There you can list the things that you would be interested in participating in.”
GayIceland: Finally, if you could send one message to someone who has never attended Pride before, or who isn’t sure whether Pride is “for them,” what would you say?
Helga: “I’d simply say: come and see what Pride really is. If you’re not sure whether Pride is for you, I’d encourage you to come before deciding that it isn’t. So many people arrive expecting one thing and leave having experienced something completely different.”
Reykjavik Pride kicks off on August 4. Make sure you check out the FULL PROGRAM HERE so you don’t miss any events you might be interested in.